International
Hezbulah says an extension of the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon “will not be acceptable”
The Lebanese Shii group Hizbulá warned on Thursday that a postponement of the withdrawal of the Israeli troops present in Lebanon, which must be completed in the next three days, will not be “acceptable”, and asked the Government to act to enforce the deadline established by the ceasefire agreement.
“We will follow the evolution of the situation that is supposed to culminate in the coming days with a total withdrawal. No violation of the agreement and its guarantees will be acceptable, and no attempt to evade them under futile premises,” the political and armed movement said in a statement.
This Sunday expires the ceasefire agreement between the parties, which stipulates the end of the invasion initiated by Israel on October 1 in a period of 60 days, the exit of Hizbula from the border strip and a greater deployment of the Lebanese Army in that region.
The Israeli ambassador to the United States, Mike Herzog, told Army radio on Thursday that they are maintaining contacts with Washington, mediator of the pact, to extend the implementation deadline, while Hebrew media reported an alleged request for an extension of 30 additional days.
“Some leaks that speak of the enemy postponing his withdrawal and staying longer in Lebanon call for everyone to act effectively, especially the political authorities of Lebanon to pressure the countries that sponsor the agreement,” Hezbulá demanded in his statement.
He also urged them to proceed in the coming days in a way that guarantees the deployment of the Lebanese Army “to the last inch of territory” and not to allow any “pretext or argument” to prolong the Israeli invasion of the south of the country.
The Shiite formation warned that a breach of the date will mean a “flagrant” violation of the pact and the beginning of a “new chapter of occupation”, so the Lebanese State must address the matter using “all” the means guaranteed by international laws.
Since the entry into force of the agreement, on November 27, Israeli troops have withdrawn from almost the entire western sector of the border strip and the Lebanese Army has been deployed in about 80 new points, but with only three days to go, there is still a long way to complete the process.
International
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.
All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.
The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.
The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.
“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
International
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.
“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.
Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.
According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.
International
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.
The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.
Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.
Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.
The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.
Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.
Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.
In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.
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